Ontario is introducing a set of measures that will take strict action against the use of mobile phones and vaping in schools.

The new rules will come into effect in the 2024-2025 school year.

Starting in September, students from kindergarten to sixth grade will be required to keep their phones on silent and out of sight throughout the day, unless permitted by the teacher.

Students in grades seven through twelve will have more flexibility, as mobile phones will only be prohibited during class time.

If a student breaks the rules, their phone must be immediately surrendered to a staff member and parents will be notified.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement released on Sunday: “We have heard loud and clear from parents and teachers alike that mobile phones in classrooms distract children from learning.”

He added, "When it comes to mobile phones, our policy is 'out of sight, out of mind,' as we bring students back to basics by restoring focus, safety, and common sense in Ontario schools."

As part of the new policy, social media sites will be banned from all school networks and devices. The government will also prohibit sharing and recording videos or photos of individuals without explicit consent, although it is unclear how this will be monitored or enforced.

Teachers will also be required to include comments about students' levels of distraction in class in report cards.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Ontario's plan to restrict mobile phone use in class and ban vaping aims to restore academic focus, safety, and common sense in our schools; it's about time.

These policy changes come as four school boards in Ontario have filed lawsuits against several social media platforms, claiming that their products interfere negligently with student learning and have caused a "widespread disruption to the education system."

The lawsuits allege that Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta "deliberately and/or negligently disrupted school and learning and fundamentally changed school and learning."

Premier Doug Ford described the lawsuit as "nonsense."

The Progressive Conservatives attempted to implement a ban on mobile phone use in 2019, limiting it for educational, health, and medical purposes during school hours. The changes to the board and school behavior policies clarified the restrictions placed on students regarding school property, or at school-related events, or in virtual settings.

What has changed regarding vaping?

The government has already announced in its 2024 budget that it will spend $30 million to install e-cigarette detection devices and other security enhancements in schools.

Students caught with vaping products or e-cigarettes will be required to surrender them, and parents will be notified immediately.

The government will require schools to display signs in public areas outlining "behavioral expectations," and a marketing campaign will be launched aimed at students and parents to raise awareness of the new policy.

The cost of these changes is approximately $17.5 million, with $15 million allocated to support addiction-related behavior.

Officials say that a PA Day will be used to provide mandatory training for teachers and staff on distraction removal practices.